Teri Garr

Biography

Teri Garr was an American actress, comedian and dancer known for comedic film and television roles. Born in Los Angeles and raised mostly in North Hollywood, she grew up with a comedian father and a mother who worked as a studio costumier. She trained in ballet and began as a teenager with small screen parts, including dancing in Elvis Presley musicals, before studying acting in New York. After her 1968 breakthrough on Star Trek, she drew notice for The Conversation (1974) and Young Frankenstein (1974), then appeared in Oh, God! (1977), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and The Black Stallion (1979). Her role in Tootsie (1982) brought an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Later credits included Mr. Mom (1983), After Hours (1985), Let It Ride (1989), Dumb and Dumber (1994) and Michael (1996). She hosted Saturday Night Live three times and gave her final acting performances in 2011; she died in 2024.

79years old at death

Born December 11, 1944Los Angeles
Died October 29, 2024Los Angeles
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Terry Ann Garr (birth name)Also credited as Terry Garr

Movie Career

Films: 40
Career span: 44 years1963 to 2007

Genres

Comedy70%, 28 films
Drama38%, 15 films
Family20%, 8 films
Adventure15%, 6 films
Crime15%, 6 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Garr's first significant television part was secretary Roberta Lincoln in the Star Trek episode "Assignment: Earth", made as a backdoor pilot for a series that was never commissioned.
Early training
Garr trained in ballet for three or four hours a day as a young dancer, taking buses across the city to reach the best dancing schools.
Early training
Garr studied acting at the Actors Studio and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute after dropping out of San Fernando Valley State College and moving to New York City.
Big break
Garr's role as Inga in Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein marked her career breakthrough, following her supporting part in Coppola's The Conversation.

Teri Garr movies on Netflix

Expired2007IMDb rating 6.1as Mother Barney / Aunt Tilde
Kabluey2007IMDb rating 6.5as Suze
Aloha Scooby-Doo!2005IMDb rating 6.3as Mayor Molly Quinn (voice)
Life Without Dick2002IMDb rating 4.0as Madame Hugonaut
The Wandering Soul Murders2001IMDb rating 5.8as Tess Malone
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker2000IMDb rating 7.7as Mary McGinnis (voice)
Batman Beyond: The Movie1999IMDb rating 7.7as Mary McGinnis (voice)
Dick1999IMDb rating 6.2as Helen Lorenzo
Casper Meets Wendy1998IMDb rating 5.4as Fanny
A Simple Wish1997IMDb rating 5.4as Rena
Michael1996IMDb rating 5.7as Judge Esther Newberg
Dumb & Dumber1994IMDb rating 7.3as Helen Swanson
Mom and Dad Save the World1992IMDb rating 5.4as Marge Nelson
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme1990IMDb rating 7.5as Jill (of Jack and Jill)
Short Time1990IMDb rating 6.4as Carolyn Simpson
Waiting for the Light1990IMDb rating 6.0as Kay
Let It Ride1989IMDb rating 6.8as Pam
Out Cold1989IMDb rating 5.5as Sunny
Full Moon in Blue Water1988IMDb rating 5.6as Louise
After Hours1985IMDb rating 7.6as Julie
Firstborn1984IMDb rating 6.2as Wendy
Steve Martin: Homage to Steve1984IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
Mr. Mom1983IMDb rating 6.6as Caroline
The Black Stallion Returns1983IMDb rating 5.9as Alec's Mother
The Sting II1983IMDb rating 4.9as Veronica
The Escape Artist1982IMDb rating 6.1as Arlene
The Tale of the Frog Prince1982IMDb rating 7.5as Princess
Tootsie1982IMDb rating 7.4as Sandy
One from the Heart1981IMDb rating 6.5as Frannie
The Black Stallion1979IMDb rating 7.4as Alec's Mother
Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977IMDb rating 7.6as Ronnie Neary
Oh, God!1977IMDb rating 6.6as Bobbie Landers
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976IMDb rating 4.8as Fluffy Peters
The Conversation1974IMDb rating 7.7as Amy
Young Frankenstein1974IMDb rating 8.0as Inga
Head1968IMDb rating 6.4as Testy True
Clambake1967IMDb rating 5.7as Dancer
Red Line 70001965IMDb rating 5.6as Nightclub Dancer
Kissin' Cousins1964IMDb rating 5.3as Hillbilly Dancer
Fun in Acapulco1963IMDb rating 5.9as Hotel Guest

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Dumb & Dumber1994 Comedyas Helen Swanson
IMDb rating 7.3448K votes
Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977 Drama, Sci-Fias Ronnie Neary
IMDb rating 7.6239K votes
Tootsie1982as Sandy
IMDb rating 7.4124K votes
Young Frankenstein1974as Inga
IMDb rating 8.0182K votes
After Hours1985as Julie
IMDb rating 7.6101K votes
Mr. Mom1983as Caroline
IMDb rating 6.631K votes
The Conversation1974as Amy
IMDb rating 7.7138K votes
One from the Heart1981as Frannie
IMDb rating 6.59.2K votes

Most often with

Francis Ford Coppola directed two of these films, Curt Geda two. Allen Garfield appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Allen Garfield

Elvis Presley

Shelley Duvall

Frank Welker

Richard Dreyfuss

Gene Hackman

Francis Ford CoppolaDirector, 2 films Curt GedaDirector, 2 films

Films together

Allen Garfield4 films together, 1974 to 1989
Allen Garfield's page
- Let It Ride1989IMDb rating 6.8Garr as PamGarfield as Greenberg
- The Black Stallion Returns1983IMDb rating 5.9Garr as Alec's MotherGarfield as Kurr
- One from the Heart1981IMDb rating 6.5Garr as FrannieGarfield as Restaurant Owner
- The Conversation1974IMDb rating 7.7Garr as AmyGarfield as Bernie Moran
Elvis Presley3 films together, 1963 to 1967
Elvis Presley's page
- Clambake1967IMDb rating 5.7Garr as DancerPresley as Scott Hayward / 'Tom Wilson'
- Kissin' Cousins1964IMDb rating 5.3Garr as Hillbilly DancerPresley as Josh Morgan / Jodie Tatum
- Fun in Acapulco1963IMDb rating 5.9Garr as Hotel GuestPresley as Mike Windgren
Shelley Duvall3 films together, 1982 to 1998
Shelley Duvall's page
- Casper Meets Wendy1998IMDb rating 5.4Garr as FannyDuvall as Gabby
- Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme1990IMDb rating 7.5Garr as Jill (of Jack and Jill)Duvall as Little Bo Peep
- The Tale of the Frog Prince1982IMDb rating 7.5Garr as PrincessDuvall as Self - Host
Frank Welker2 films together, 2000 to 2005
Frank Welker's page
- Aloha Scooby-Doo!2005IMDb rating 6.3Garr as Mayor Molly QuinnvoiceWelker as Scooby-Doo / Fred / Wiki Tiki / Interviewervoice
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker2000IMDb rating 7.7Garr as Mary McGinnisvoiceWelker as Woofvoice
Richard Dreyfuss2 films together, 1977 to 1989
Richard Dreyfuss's page
- Let It Ride1989IMDb rating 6.8Garr as PamDreyfuss as Jay Trotter
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977IMDb rating 7.6Garr as Ronnie NearyDreyfuss as Roy Neary
Gene Hackman2 films together, 1974 to 1988
Gene Hackman's page
- Full Moon in Blue Water1988IMDb rating 5.6Garr as LouiseHackman as Floyd
- The Conversation1974IMDb rating 7.7Garr as AmyHackman as Harry Caul
Francis Ford CoppolaDirector, 2 films, 1974 to 1981
All films by Francis Ford Coppola
- One from the Heart1981IMDb rating 6.5Garr as Frannie
- The Conversation1974IMDb rating 7.7Garr as Amy
Curt GedaDirector, 2 films, 1999 to 2000
All films by Curt Geda
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker2000IMDb rating 7.7Garr as Mary McGinnisvoice
- Batman Beyond: The Movie1999IMDb rating 7.7Garr as Mary McGinnisvoice
Also two films together22 more actors
- Cheech MarinMother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990) and After Hours (1985)
- Dabney ColemanShort Time (1990) and Tootsie (1982)
- George TakeiBatman Beyond: The Movie (1999) and Red Line 7000 (1965)
- Jack McGeeA Simple Wish (1997) and Waiting for the Light (1990)
- Vincent SchiavelliCasper Meets Wendy (1998) and Waiting for the Light (1990)
- Eric IdleMom and Dad Save the World (1992) and The Tale of the Frog Prince (1982)
- Sarah Jessica ParkerLife Without Dick (2002) and Firstborn (1984)
- Frederic ForrestOne from the Heart (1981) and The Conversation (1974)
- Lauren TomBatman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) and Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999)
- Kevin ConroyBatman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) and Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999)
- Madeline KahnWon Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) and Young Frankenstein (1974)
- Raul JuliaThe Escape Artist (1982) and One from the Heart (1981)
- Will FriedleBatman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) and Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999)
- Michael HigginsThe Black Stallion (1979) and The Conversation (1974)
- Robert PastorelliA Simple Wish (1997) and Michael (1996)
- Connie SawyerDumb & Dumber (1994) and Oh, God! (1977)
- Charlie DellMom and Dad Save the World (1992) and The Tale of the Frog Prince (1982)
- Harry AndersonMother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990) and The Escape Artist (1982)
- Doghmi LarbiThe Black Stallion Returns (1983) and The Black Stallion (1979)
- Henny YoungmanSteve Martin: Homage to Steve (1984) and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
- Ryan O'DonohueBatman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) and Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999)
- Kelly RenoThe Black Stallion Returns (1983) and The Black Stallion (1979)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Teri Garr's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

Top

Combined worldwide box office

$1.2 billion

25 of the 40 films have a worldwide figure.

25Worldwide figure
4US gross only
6Never in cinemas
5Figure not found

Top grosser

Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977Ronnie Neary$307 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 92% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977as Ronnie Neary
$307M26.1% of the total
2
Dumb & Dumber1994as Helen Swanson
$247M21.0% of the total
3
Tootsie1982as Sandy
$177M15.1% of the total
4
Michael1996as Judge Esther Newberg
$120M10.2% of the total
5
Young Frankenstein1974as Inga
$86M7.3% of the total
6
Mr. Mom1983as Caroline
$65M5.5% of the total
7
Oh, God!1977as Bobbie Landers
$42M3.5% of the total
8
The Black Stallion1979as Alec's Mother
$38M3.2% of the total